Sweden is preparing for the birth of Crown Princess Victoria’s second child, expected in March. The Swedish court has already sent out invitations for the Te Deum service after the birth of the child. The church service will take place at 12.15 the day after the birth or if the birth takes place on a Saturday, the following Monday. The Crown Princess has remained active these last few days and she is even expected to meet with Mogens Lykketoft, president of the UN General Assembly on Monday. This is most likely going to be her last appearance before the birth of her second child.

The Crown Princess and her husband, Prince Daniel, have a daughter named Princess Estelle who was born on 23 February 2012. She carries the title Duchess of Östergötland and is expected to succeed her mother as Queen regnant of Sweden when the time comes. Princess Estelle’s birth was greeted by two 21-gun salutes on Skeppsholmen island, opposite the royal palace in the capital Stockholm.

The Te Deum service for Princess Estelle’s birth took place on 24 February and she was baptised on 22 May at the Royal Chapel of Stockholm Palace. Her godparents were her maternal uncle, Prince Carl Philip the Duke of Värmland; her paternal aunt, Anna Westling-Söderström; the then-Prince of Orange ; the Crown Princess of Denmark; and the Crown Prince of Norway. She was christened in the family’s antique christening gown which was first worn by Prince Gustaf Adolf when he was christened in 1906. Her name and date of christening was added in embroidery to the gown.

A change in law in 1980 made Princess Estelle’s mother Crown Princess of Sweden in favour of her younger brother Prince Carl Philip, who was born in 1979. These plans were already on their way when Prince Carl Philip was born.